A
Premier Division
On a blustery Spring afternoon, it was almost a full programme of eight games in the Premier Division with just the one postponed this week, that being the scheduled game at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium between Salisbury Development and Pewsey Vale.
The top two Amesbury Town and Kintbury Rangers were both in action as the title race enters its final stretch. League leaders Amesbury Town were looking to bounce back from Bank Holiday Monday’s defeat away at Pewsey which had seen Pewsey complete a league double over them. They travelled into Swindon for a first meeting of the season against Kingsdown, with the game switched to the 3G at Kingsdown School due to continuing issues with Southbrook Rec. Amesbury were unbeaten on 3G this season going into the game having won at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development back in September and it started well for them, George Hallahan volleying in from a Tyler Brockway pass. The lead was to last just five minutes though, a long ball up field finding Antonio Gerrish in space who ran on and curled a shot into the bottom corner for the equaliser for Kingsdown. It remained all square at the break. It stayed that way until just after the hour mark when a break from Amesbury saw the ball fall to Ally McCracken who fired under the Kingsdown keeper to restore Amesbury’s lead. Once again Kingsdown came back at the leaders and once again it was Gerrish who put them back on level terms with his second of the game. Throughout the season skipper Jack Vallis has scored vital goals for his side, usually from corner kicks, and today was to be another of those days, Vallis getting on the end of a Harry Hale corner 13 minutes from time to head his side back in front. This time there was to be no comeback from Kingsdown as Amesbury shut up shop to secure three vital points to maintain their eleven-point lead at the top of the table. Next up for Amesbury is the final of the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup this coming Wednesday when they take on Downton from the Wessex League at Bemerton Heath Harlequins FC.
Jack Vallis who scored the winner for league leaders Amesbury Town
Second place Kintbury Rangers ensured that Amesbury did not extend that lead at the top but once again it was a close-run thing as visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development proved to be difficult opponents. Terry Patton put Kintbury 1-0 up, but the visitors went close on several occasions to drawing level, Charlie McCready denying Spencer Bowen with a fine save and the visitors leading scorer Nathanial Bell also going close with a couple of good chances. However, the visitors cause was not helped when defender Adam House was shown a red card after an altercation with a Kintbury player, and the home side ensured they did not concede to claim the three points to stay in touch with Amesbury at the top.
Fourth placed Larkhall Athletic Development closed the gap to third placed Pewsey Vale with a 2-1 away win at Shrewton United. They fell behind to an early Charlie Jackson goal for Shrewton but were back on level terms on 11 minutes thanks to a penalty from Aidan Maslen. Ten minutes later Larkhall got their noses in front following a defensive error which allowed Sam Whitson to fire Larkhall into a 2-1 lead. It remained that way as the game moved into the final five minutes, but Shrewton were given a golden chance to draw level four minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty. However, the chance was spurned, the penalty kick coming back off the post. A lucky escape for Larkhall who returned over the border with the three points. The two sides meet again in midweek in what will be Shrewton’s penultimate fixture of the season whilst Larkhall will still have seven games to play after Tuesday night’s game which has been switched to the ground of Odd Down FC due to continuing issues with the Larkhall pitch.
Trowbridge Town went into their game with Malmesbury Vics Development unbeaten in 2024 and that record remains intact as they secured a narrow 3-2 victory over their visitors in a game switched to the 3G at Odd Down Sports Ground. In an entertaining first half the visitors Malmesbury raced into an early 2-0 lead thanks to two goals from young Beau Hicks. Trowbridge pulled one back just after the half hour mark, Jack Sterling firing in after good work by Adam Shipman. Parity was restored ten minutes before the break, Shipman going from provider to scorer getting on the end of a Jake Samuel cross into the box. It remained all square as the game moved into its final moments but there was to a winner, and it went the way of Trowbridge. Moments after hitting the bar with a free kick, George Bendle fired in a winner to give his side all three points in a dramatic end to the game. Trowbridge remained in eighth place but closed the gap to the sides immediately above them in the table and with games in hand could well finish in the top five if they continue their current form.
Action from Trowbridge Town's 3-2 win over Malmesbury Vics Devas Adam Shipman gets away from a Malmesbury defender & Trowbridge celebrate George Bendle's late winner (Pictures courtesy of Alwyn Bodman)
Just one place and one point separated Shrivenham and Blunsdon at the start of the afternoon and it remained that way after the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw. The teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal. That goal finally came eight minutes into the second half, and it went the way of home side Shrivenham as Josh McGory fired them in front with his first of the season. The lead was to last just two minutes though as Jamie Pidgeon equalised for Blunsdon after good work by Jamil Anderson and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.
It also finished 1-1 in the game at the Weir Field between Wroughton and Calne Town Reserves on a heavy pitch which only just got the go ahead for the game to be played. Leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score gave the home side Wroughton the lead, netting his 24th of the season. However, Calne were back on level terms ten minutes before the break, Sean Bailey giving Wroughton keeper Darryl Simms no chance from the penalty spot. It remained 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes mainly due to some excellent saves from Wroughton’s veteran keeper.
Goal number 24 of the season for Jono Peachey-Score in Wroughton's 1-1 draw with Calne Town Res
Bottom of the table Ludgershall Sports found themselves trailing 2-0 at half time in their home game against Melksham Town Reserves thanks to an own goal and second for Melksham scored by Sam Whitehead. However. Ludgershall staged a comeback after the break getting back on level terms thanks to goals from James Spackman and Taylor Jewell. Melksham were not to be denied though, Kegan Smart restored their lead and an overhead kick from Oliver Curtis made sure of the points for the visitors as it ended 4-2 to Melksham who climbed up to ninth place as a result of the win.
Division One
The recent wet weather continues to impact the fixtures with the scheduled game between Pewsey Vale Development and Lambourn Sports being the latest Division One fixture to be postponed due to wet pitch conditions. Hopefully a drying wind will allow the scheduled First Team fixture to go ahead this coming Tuesday night.
Whilst the game at Pewsey was off there were four fixtures that did go ahead including two big games at the top of the table involving the top four sides. Leaders at the start of the day were Faringdon Town who had moved back top of the table when previous leaders Park United had been held to a surprise 0-0 draw last week by Stratton Juniors. This week it was the turn of Faringdon themselves to draw a blank in front of goal as they were held to a 0-0 draw by fourth placed Devizes Town Reserves. Your Sport Swindon were at Faringdon with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League website where other games covered by Your Sport Swindon can be accessed.
Those dropped points by Faringdon meant Park United returned to the top of the table courtesy of a hard fought 4-2 win over third placed Marlborough Town. Two goals from Lewis McCarron plus one from Zac Hillier and Jamie Norman did the damage for the new leaders, both Marlborough Town goals being scored by Harry Womersley who moved his total onto eleven for the season. Park United head the table by two points with five games to go. Those five games include a couple of tough looking fixtures against Devizes Town Reserves and Bratton and the title race is likely to go right down to the wire. Your Sport Swindon were at Marlborough with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League website where other games covered by Your Sport Swindon can be accessed. See bottom of page for details of how to subscribe to Your Sport Swindon.
Purton moved up to fifth spot with a convincing 6-0 win over Kintbury Rangers Development and with games in hand could yet still feature in the title race. Star of the show for Purton was Gio Wrona who helped himself to four goals, doubling his total for the season. Further goals from leading scorers Matt Bennett who moved onto 20 for the season and Levi Cox who took his total for the season to 15 completed the scoring for Purton. Purton are back in action on Tuesday night when they entertain Lambourn Sports at the Red House as they play one of those games in hand over the top four sides.
Four goals for Gio Wrona in Purton's 6-0 win over Kintbury Rangers Development
The final game of the day in Division One involved Cricklade Town who once again pro-actively switched their game to a 3G pitch to enable their fixture against Kingsdown Development to go ahead. Cricklade were rewarded for their endeavours with another three points as they extended their unbeaten run to three games thanks to a 2-1 win, but they were made to work hard for all three points by the young Kingsdown side whose eldest player on the day was just 21. All three goals came in the first half with both sides scoring from the penalty spot. Cricklade went in front but were pegged back by a Josh Atwell penalty for Kingsdown. Cricklade regained the lead three minutes before the break thanks to a penalty of their own to lead 2-1 at half time. The two Cricklade goals were scored by Jake Allen, with his tenth of the season, and Josh Riggs. There was to be no further goals in the second half as Cricklade held out to take the three points and move to within three points of seventh placed Kintbury Rangers Development.
6 April 2024
